Dust applicator



Oct. 22, 1935. .1 A. JOHNSON ETAL 2,018,525

DUST APPLICATOR Filed Nov. 21, 1934 V 2 Sh'eets-.Sheef l l5 ls l la, l Il 3ra' zo 2-1 sa d SB ,fzz

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z L. //y- Ado/nega Oct. 22, 1935. '.J. A. JOHNSON ET AL 2,018,525

DUST APPLICATOR Filed NOX-. 2l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 omeya Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES A E T FFQE DUST APPLICATOR Application November 21, 1934, Serial No. 754,010

'l Claims.

This invention relates to a powder applicator and has for its primary object the provision of means for use in directing powder both downwardly and upwardly. There are many conceivable uses oi the invention, one being to apply insecticide in powder form to vegetation and another use being to project powder upon a fire in order to extinguish it.

Dust applicators or dusters have heretofore been used but in the known construction thereof, the dust must always be directed downwardly or horizontally and no provision is made for permitting the dust to be projected upwardly. In many cases it is just as essential to have an upwardly directed projection as it is a downward one. For example, in applying dust to the under sides of leaves of shrubbery, the dust must be projected upwardlyand again in many cases where the device is to be used as a re extinguisher, iires start in elevated positions such, for example, as on draperies about windows, about flues, etc. In such cases it therefore becomes necessary when using a powder to have some means for projecting the powder upwardly to the desired point of application.

Our invention provides in one device means permitting the projection of the dust both downwardly and upwardly as may be desired, as well as horizontally.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved organization of parts especially adapted for use in directing the powder both upwardly and downwardly. A further object is to provide a very simple mechanism which will be non-clogging and automatically operable in the hands oi inexperienced users and which will remain durable over long periods of time.

Further objects.and advantages will become apparent to those versed in the art in the iollowing description of the invention as illustrated in one particular form in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a central transverse longitudinal section through a device embodying our invention;

Fig. 2, an end elevation; v

Fig. 3, an opposite or discharge end elevation;

Fig. ll, a vertical transverse section on the line 4-4 in Fig. l;

Fig. 5, a detail in longitudinal section of the discharge mechanism;

Fig. 6, an elevation of an air control valve;

Fig. 7, a side elevation in partial section of a Adevice embodying our invention directed downwardly;

(Cl. 43--14'U Fig. 8, a similar side elevation but directed upwardly, and

Fig. 9, a transverse section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts -5 throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the particular form herein shown and described, we provide a barrel I0 having a rear end closure il and a discharge end closure I2. A piston rod i3 slidably passes through the closure il 1o and connects by its inner end with a plunger or piston lli which slidably engages with the inner wall of the barrel it in the usual and well known manner whereby inward movement of the rod y it causes the outer edge of the piston to engage snugly with the barrel wall to compress air forwardly of the piston and upon the reverse or outward travel of the rod I3, to permit air back of the piston to travel around the piston so as to have air in front thereof for compression upon the return stroke. A handle I5 is xed on the outer end ci the rod i3 outside of the closure II. The closure l i is provided with air inlets I6, here shown as three in number, although the number is immaterial so long as there is sufiicient open- Y ing to permit the passage of the required volume of air therethrough.

The length of the rod I3 is made to be such that when it is carried to its full permissible length within the barrel lli, the piston I4 will 30 be terminated at some such position as indicated in Fig. 1 which is here shown as less than half the length of the barrel lll from the end I I. This terminal position of the piston i4 may, of course, be varied as desired. ln any event immediately forward of this terminal position of the piston i4 is xed a wall Il across the barrel I@ having some sort of a valved opening therethrough. In the form herein shown, we place a valve member I8 across an opening in the wall il and yield- 40 ingly retain the member I3 thereover by means of a spring I9 xed by one end to the wall Il and bearing substantially centrally of the member I8. Preferably, although not necessarily so,

a second wall 2B is placed immediately forward 45 of the iirst wall il as a means of protecting and keeping powder away from the valve in the wall Il. This wall 20 is provided with openings 2| therethrough, here shown as two in number.

The chamber within the barrel Iii thus dened between the wall 2t and the forward closure I2 is that which is to receive and carry the powder to be projected. This chamber 22 is charged through an opening 23 in the end I2 which is normally closed by a screw cover 24. The open- Y. spaced a trifle forward of the' wall 20.

ing 23is eccentric ofthe end I2 to permit the carrying Yof a nozzle 25 by the end below the cover 24. This nozzle 25 is normally closed at its Youter end when not inV use by a plug 26 slidably entering therein to be frictionally retained.

The passageway through'the nozzle 25 communicates by its inner end with the interior of a tuber21 which is carried in xed relation within the barrel i8 adjacent the side and parallel to lthe Yaxis thereof. VThis tube 21 extends inwardly to terminate ait-the wall 2D and has its innerV end closed. On the under side, that is the side Vof the tube 21 adjacent the wall of the barrel I0, is an opening 28spaced inwardlya short distance from the interior Vend of the nozzle 25. This opening-28 is here shown as being divided by a plurality of transverse bars Z9 causing the opening to be in reality a pluralityof slits.'

On the sameunder side of the tube 21 adjacent the .wall of the tube I is a second opening 3D This opening 3B is here shown as also being divided by Va plurality of transverse bars 3l causing Vthe opening to'be in reality a plurality'of transverse slits. TheV total Yeffective area of the opening 3D isrpreierably made to be larger than that of the opening 28. A screen 32'surrounds the tube 21 at its forward end to be spaced Voutwardly some- Vwhat from the opening 28 and to denne an annular chamber between the inside of the screen and the tube 21. Likewise a screen 33 surrounds Vthe rear end oi the tube 21 in spaced relation therefrom over the opening 30.

We provide a valve member automatically op- Veratingunderthe influence of gravity to selectively close the openings y28 and 30 depending upon the position in which the barrel may be placed. In `the form herein shown, this valve member assumes the form of a tube 34 which is slidably carried within the tube 21. This tube 34 is somewhat shorter than the tube 21 so that it may be slid from one end to the other of the tube 21 as the telescoping tubes may be tilted. Openings 35 and 36'are respectively provided near Vthe ends of the tube 34 Vso asr to permit lateral `entrance into the tube. The length of the tube 34 and the positions of these openings 35 and 36 are so arrangedY in respect to the tube 21 and its openings 28 `and 3l) that when' the barrel l0 is rocked to have the nozzle 25k directed downwardly asin Fig. 7, the tube 34 will, under the influence of gravity, slide downwardly to have the opening 35 register with the opening 28 in the tube 21. The opening 35 is so arranged cir- Y nt the same time the opening 36 in the' other end of the tube 34 has been Ycarried downwardly out of register with the opening 3!! in the tube 21 to have a closed portion of the tube 34 across Vthe opening '3o in the tube 21A thereby closing over the opening 30.

In this position of the barrel I0, Fig. 7, powder V31 withinthe chamber 22 drops downwardly so Y.that the screen 32 is then surrounded by the powder which may sift through the screen to reach the opening 28 and the opening 35 to then `travel"axially of the tube 34 and out through the nozzle 25.4 This movement of the powder is forc- -ibly created by means of pressure built up in the Vcharnbeif. by the'rpowder upon reciprocating vthe piston I4. While the tube 34 is suihciently free to travel longitudinally within the tube 21 as the barrel may be rocked to set up that travel, the powder 31 does not tend to clog or fill in between the two tubes but serves rather as a lubricant therebetween. In the operation of the device as above indicated, the nozzle 25 being V5 directed downwardly, the projected powder ls of course sent in the same direction. Now in order to project thepowder upwardly, all that is required is to turn the barrel I9 upwardly as indicated in Fig. 8 to have a nozzle 25 pointed upwardly. With the barrel thus positioned, the tube34 will have shifted to the position as indicated in Fig. 8 wherein the opening 36 in the tube 34 then registers with the opening 39 in the tube 21 while the opening 35 in the 15 Y V25. It is thus to be seen that regardless of the position of the barrel lil causing the powder to rest at either end of the chamber 22, that powder will always surround a part-of the dischargingV tube which is thencpen. Of course it is to be seen that where the opening is provided for the travel of the powder from the chamber 22 from one end only of the discharging tube, then when the barrel is rocked to an oppositely inclined position, the powder below that opening would not, be discharged and air only would escape.

Attention is'particularly called to the fact that 35 Vthe barrel can be placed at no position in which both valves will be closed at the same time, and the powder will thus have access to the discharge tube at all times, When the barrel is held in a horizontal position oneor the other of the valves may be open or both valves partially open, but this will not interfere with the operation as the powder will at all times have access to the discharge tube.

While we have herein shownV and described l our invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that the structure may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and we, therefore, do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may 50 be imposed by the following claims.

We claim: Y'

1, In a dust applicator, a chamber adapted to, receive dust, means for applying pressure to the dust, said chamber having a discharge opening, 5d means Vproviding a passageway communicating with said opening from the ends of the chamber, and means automatically closing olf the passageway from the upper chamber end in either case upon upward or downward tilting ofthe chamber. Y

2. In a dust applicator, a chamber adapted to receive dust, means for creating al pressure in the chamber, a dust conductor extending along the chamber and having an opening therein toward each end to receive dust from the chamber, and means shiftable by gravity selectively closing and openingsaid openings in alternate relation as the chamber may be rocked to have the upper opening closed and the lower opening open.

3. In a dust applicator, a dust carrying chamber having an opening therefrom at each end thereof, and slidable means automatically covering and uncovering said openings as the chamber Mlv may be tilted, said means being arranged in relation to the openings whereby the lower opening remains open while the upper opening is closed.

4. In a dust applicator, a dust carrying chamber, a dust conductor along the chamber, said conductor having an intake opening at one end of the chamber and an intake opening at the other end, and a member slidable along the conductor under the influence of gravity to cover and uncover said openings in alternate relation whereby the uppermost opening is always covered as the chamber may be tilted upwardly and downwardly.

5. In a dust applicator, a dust carrying chamber, means for creating a pressure in the chamber, a dust conductor along the chamber having openings therein affording passages from respective ends of the chamber to the conductor, the opening toward the discharge end of the conductor being of less area than that of the other opening, a screen over each opening in spaced relation from the conductor, and a member slidable over said openings under the inuence of gravity, said member being proportioned in relation to the spacing apart of said openings to alternately cover and uncover them upon tilting of the chamber to always have the then upper opening covered and the lower opening uncovered.

6. In a dust applicator, a dust carrying chamber, means for creating a pressure in the chamber, a dust conductor along the chamber having openings therein affording passages from respective ends of the chamber to the conductor, the opening toward the discharge end of the conductor being of less area than that of the other opening, a screen over each opening in spaced relation from the conductor, and a member slidable over said openings under the influence oi' gravity, said member being proportioned in relation to the spacing apart of said openings to alternately cover and uncover them upon tilting of the chamber to always have the then upper opening covered and the lower opening uncovered, said member being a tube telescoping with the conductor.

7. A dust applicator comprising an air compressing chamber, a dust carrying chamber, check Valved intercommunicating means between the chambers, said dust chamber having two discharge openings, one at each end thereof, a conductor interconnecting said openings, a discharge nozzle ai; one end of the conductor, and a gravity influenced slide valve operating in inverse manner at each of said openings.

JOI-IN A. JOHNSON. WALTER E. McVAY. 

